Beautiful Lampson Falls - Part 3

The dogs and I hiked to the top of Lampson Falls, then down to its base and around a rocky ridge for more spectacular views (see also Parts 1 and 2, posted previously). Now we were climbing back up to the top of the falls:

The roaring, churning wall of water was just to our right, but my focus was on the dogs' safety and my own as I navigated the wet rocks with my leg braces and awkward gait:

We took one last look at the top:

And then we began our journey back toward the car. The trail from the top of the falls to the parking area is handicapped accessible:

I stopped to admire a handsome patch of Partridgeberry. Our spring was so delayed that little else was growing yet:


The trail back was broad, level and easy. The dogs were worn out and their wild behavior at the beginning was by now calm and mild. When we got home, they curled up on their beds and slept for the rest of the afternoon:

The scenery was first class even if the Beech leaves were behind schedule this year:

And I was both happy and getting a sun tanned face:


It was a joy to have such well behaved dogs. If only they were so calm at the beginning of a hike:

They still stopped to investigate every smell, but even Jack was tired and reduced to a walk by this time. I signed out at the register and loaded the dogs up into the car for the journey home:

Beautiful Lampson Falls - Part 2

The dogs and I had hiked to the top of Lampson Falls, then down to the bottom. We then began ascending the rocky ridge across the way, but little Jack was unable to scramble up the steep, slippery rock. Like me, he had to find an easier route:

Seamus made it to the top without help and seemed quite proud of himself:

I had continued to resist the impulse to walk toward the steep cliff and churning water, but the dogs led me in that direction and I didn't object. The truth was that I wanted to see it too:

At the foot of that steep drop off, huge quantities of churning, foaming water were roaring - and the falls were just beyond, continually feeding more water to the pool:

I didn't want any of the dogs to get too close to the edge and called them back when they appeared to be headed that way:

But we did walk down a sloping trail to lower rocks which looked somewhat safer:

This lower ridge was even more impressive because it was so close to the water and the roar of the falls:

 The dogs found this great fun and, to my relief, stayed away from the edge:

 
But instead of going farther, I turned us around and headed back toward the base of the falls so we could return to our car:

We climbed back up to another high point, then back down to the base of the falls. I'll post Part 3 tomorrow:

Beautiful Lampson Falls - Part 1

I had been to Lampson Falls a couple of times in the past, but that was years ago and I'd pretty much forgotten about it. Then I saw a mention of it online, so the very next morning I put the dogs in the car and drove 35 miles to the trail head. We had the entire forest to ourselves:

I almost didn't sign in at the register, but then did so because I want the state to know that people are using the trail and besides - if I were to fall in and drown, I'd want them to know who to look for:

The dogs were wildly excited at the beginning, and I had to keep hollering at them to keep them from running too far ahead:

The pooches investigated everything, and were having a grand time:


They gradually slowed down, and by the end of the hike were heeling nicely:

It was all a great adventure as we made our way down the broad, level, handicapped accessible trail. But I began to hear the roar of the falls and wanted to keep the dogs close and away from the cascade:

When we arrived near the top of the falls, I could see (though it was no surprise) that our spring snow melt and rain had the water level high. Indeed it was so high that much of the view of the falls was obstructed by the huge wall of water. The mist produced amazing rainbows but alas, they didn't show up on the photos:

Down below, the pool at the bottom of the waterfall was overflowing its banks and churning wildly:

We carefully descended the rocky, muddy hillside to the bottom, where the pool was now covering the sand where folks like to swim on hot summer days. Just ahead of us, a rocky ridge loomed impressively. I was not inclined to climb up there with the dogs, but we kept walking in that direction:

I turned back to see the falls, 40 feet high and 100 feet wide. The amount of water rushing over was huge:

I didn't want to climb up onto the rocky ridge, but Clover and Daphne led the way - so I followed. I'll post Part 2 tomorrow):

Far Off The Beaten Path: Clare, New York - Part 2

I was on my way to a couple of small hikes along the Grasse River with my four youngest dogs, and taking a driving tour of tiny, rural Clare, New York. This is part 2. I passed by this neat and trim home with a nice balcony on which its owners could sit and gaze into the forest:

And a woodsy, brown home set way back into the trees:

This home had a boat and several snowmobiles at the ready. There's plenty of lakes, streams and snowfall on which to use them:

A barn, a chicken house, a travel trailer. This, I would venture to guess, was an example of comfortable country living:

And the Clare Town Hall which is listed on the National Register Of Historic Places. It didn't look particularly antique, though:

That sign reads, "Town Of Clare Museum, Built In 1897:"

A steel shed, a travel trailer and another balcony:

Natural wood siding and a wonderful front porch:

And speaking of great porches on which to sit and watch the slow pace of country life, this house had a wonderful example of one:

A very woodsy house with Adirondack siding, nestled beneath the pines:

Set way back in the forest:

And lastly, a modern log cabin. But I was on my way to several small hikes along the Grasse River and almost there. So I put away my camera and focused on driving. I'll post about the first hike tomorrow:

Far Off The Beaten Path: Clare, New York - Part 1

I'd taken a rather bad fall the day before while rock-hopping in the Ausable River, but in spite of my aching, bruised and bloodied body, I was taking the dogs hiking the next morning. I decided to re-visit the Grasse River waterfalls, specifically the two I'd missed on my last visit. To get there, I had to drive through Clare, New York, a scenic rural town in St. Lawrence County. Wikipedia claims that Clare has 97.3 square miles and a population of  105. Now, that's rural! I began my photo tour with this old barn, seemingly abandoned:

And on to this old house which, judging by the toys in the yard, housed some children:

A green, woodsy home:

And a modern home set way back behind the pines:

A whimsical home with lots of statues and lights:

And another old barn, this one also seemingly unused:

Clare had a tiny airport and a hangar with four stalls:

A big antenna to catch TV signals. Clare is so far from any metropolis that TV signals must be difficult to receive. I wondered why they didn't have a satellite dish, but perhaps they had that also:

A nice garage for protection during harsh winters:

I passed by the entrance to Lampson Falls, also in the town of Clare, but having visited there the last time, kept right on driving:

A trim house with a wood stove and a privacy gate:

Ummm, do you think there might be children living here? I kept on driving and snapping photos, and will post more tomorrow: